CASSOPOLIS — Repairing the ailing elevator in the 1899 courthouse by Otis for $110,000 was temporarily postponed Jan. 19 by the Cass County Board of Commissioners pending language review by its attorney.
“This is a priority,” Chair Minnie Warren said.
The elevator was installed June 19, 1975.
“It is continuing to fail on a weekly, sometimes daily basis,” according to Building and Grounds Director David Dickey. “The hoist way is no longer able to be serviced, and the pump and hoist are obsolete. Electronic relays for the elevator are no longer manufactured.”
With reuse of some equipment, such as the cab, elevator cavity, interlocks, car door hanger, hoist way entrance and spring buffers, the cost is calculated at $95,000 for Otis Elevator hoist and controls, $1,300 in electrical work by Bender Electric and $1,500 for a dedicated Frontier phone line, $97,800 total.
It might be necessary to drill a casing for $10,000. Otis is confident there is a cased hole there, but cannot be sure until removal of the old hoist.
The elevator would not be operating for six weeks during repairs, which will be funded through the public improvement fund.
“Let’s get the building in shape because we’re going to be staying in this old courthouse at least another 10 or 12 years,” Vice Chair Ed Goodman said. “We’re going to need that elevator.”
Postponement passed 14-1, with Commissioner Skip Dyes dissenting.